Conduit closure

ABSTRACT

A conduit has an upper and a lower open end. A sealing ring surrounds the conduit exteriorly adjacent the lower open end, and a cover is mounted on the conduit to be located beneath the lower open end. The normally upwardly facing side of the cover is provided with a depression surrounded by an upstanding rim which is normally in engagement with the sealing ring. The depression is dimensioned to accommodate liquid entering through the upper open end, until the liquid reaches a certain level in the depression but below the lower open end of the conduit. A counterweight normally holds the cover in the position closing the lower open end of the conduit, but when the liquid reaches the aforementioned level the cover, which is pivotally mounted, pivots downwardly under the weight of the liquid in opposition to the counterweight, so that the lower open end of the conduit is opened and liquid which has accumulated in the depression of the cover is downwardly discharged.

CONDUIT CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates generally to a conduit closure, and more particularly to aclosure which permits entry of liquid into a conduit communicating witha reservoir, channel or the like, but prevents backingup of the liquidout of the conduit.

Closures of the type here under discussion are used for variouspurposes, including for use with drainage conduits. For purposes ofexplanation the present invention will be discussed hereafter withrespect to the use of the novel closure on a drainage conduit, althoughthis should be understood to be exemplary only.

It is known to have a vertically oriented or nearvertically conduitsection which has upper and lower open ends, with the lower open endcommunicating with a drainage or other conduit, reservoir or the like.Mounted adjacent the lower open end, so as to normally close the same,is a cover whose purpose it is to prevent backing-up of the liquid outof the drainage conduit or reservoir with which the upright conduitcommunicates. A further purpose is to prevent gases or odors fromescaping from the drainage conduit or reservoir into the surroundingatmosphere. On the other hand, the conduit must of course permit theentry of water or other liquid into the drainage conduit or reservoir.For this reason the cover is pivotally mounted so that as wateraccumulates in the upright conduit it will eventually overcome the forceof a biasing means holding the cover in closed position, and will forcethe cover to move to open position so that the accumulated water can nowrun out of the upright conduit into the drainage conduit or reservoir.It is known from the prior art to provide a construction in which asealing ring is located at the lower edge of the upright conduit, thatis the edge face which faces in axial direction, and in which the coveritself is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which islocated beneath the conduit itself, whereas a counterweight acting as abiasing means for the cover is located immediately laterally adjacentthe conduit. In the closure position the general plane of the coverassumes a horizontal orientation, and the cover can turn to openposition only through approximately 45, because movement beyond thisextent is prevented by the fact that the edge of the cover which movesupwardly during such movement contacts the upright conduit and is thusprevented from further movement. In this construction it is intendedthat there should always be some accumulated liquid remaining in adepression on the upper side of the cover, while the latter is inclosure position, in order to provide a liquid seal between the coverand the upright conduit, a liquid seal which surrounds the sealing ringfor the purpose of preventing the escape of undesirable odors.

This known construction has a number of disadvantages. One of these isthe fact that when the maximum permissible liquid level in thedepression of the cover is reached, the cover will not openspontaneously nor will it open to the fullest possible extent. it willopen only relatively slowly and only as far as is necessary to permitthe liquid to run out of the depression into the drainage conduit orreservoir. This means that if the flow of incoming liquid enteringthrough the upper 2 open end of the upright conduit is relatively slow,the cover itself will open only to a small extent, and liquid will runout of the depression in the cover only slowly. The disadvantage of thisis that the incoming liquid of course always brings with itcontaminants, such as dirt, leaves or the like which. due to the factthat only a slow trickle of liquid escapes when the cover is open onlyto a small extent, willremain in the depression rather than beingflushed out by a sudden dumping of the liquid.

These contaminants, moreover, eventually become lodged between thesealing ring and the cover, and then prevent proper sealing engagementbetween the two,

defeating the purpose of the prior-art construction. Moreover, thecontaminants frequently include rocks, sticks and the like which tend todamage the sealing ring. Finally, the fact that the liquid is permittedto contact the sealing ring in this construction has the additionaldisadvantage that in wintertime the liquid tends to freeze on thesealing ring and the cover cannot turn at all, again defeating itsintended purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, a general object of thepresent invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

Still more specifically the invention proposes to provide a conduitclosure of the type in question which provides for a reliabletrouble-free operation, and in which in wintertime the freezing-shut ofthe closure, in I a sense preventing its intended operation, isprecluded.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a closure whichpermits reliable and ready flushing of all or substantially allaccumulated solid contaminants whenever the cover moves to openposition.

In keeping with these objects, and others which will become apparenthereafter, one feature of the invention results in a structure of thecharacter described herein, particularly a conduit closure forpermitting the flow of liquid into but preventing the flow of liquidback out of a drainage conduit, comprising a conduit having spaced openends and a mounting element for mounting the conduit in uprightorientationso that the open ends constitute upper and lower ends,respectively. A sealing ring surrounds the conduit exteriorly thereofadjacent the lower open end. A cover is mounted on the conduit so as tobe located beneath the lower open end and has a major surface adapted toface the lower open end. The major surface is provided with a depressionadapted to accommodate liquid entering through the upper open end untilsuch liquid rises in the depression to a predetermined level below thelower open end. An upstanding rim bounds the depression. Mounting meansmounts the cover for pivoting movement between a position closing thelower open end and in which the rim sealingly engages the sealing ring,in a downwardly displaced position in which the cover opens the loweropen end and liquid accumulated in the depression is discharged from thelatter. Biasing means is connected with the cover and is operative forbiasing the same to the closed position until accumulated liquid in thedepression reaches the aforementioned predetermined level.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is asomewhat diagrammaticvertical section illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, inclosed condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the same embodimentin open position; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line IIIIlI of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the drawing indetail it will be seen that reference numeral 1 identifies the conduitclosure per se. It is mounted in a vertical shaft 2 of circular crosssection with this shaft 2 constituting the entrance to a reservoir, adrainage conduit or the like. The inner circumference of the shaft 2 isprovided with three abutments (there could be fewer or more) which arespaced in circumferential direction and designated with referencenumeral 3, and which support a ring 4 which in turn supports the closure1.

The closure 1 comprises a mounting element 5 of circular cross section,whose diameter corresponds to the internal diameter of the shaft 2 andwhich is provided at its underside with a circumferentially extendingsealing ring 6 engaging the ring 4 and providing a seal therewith. Anoff-center rectangular inlet opening 7 is provided in the plate 5 andcommunicates with an upright conduit 8 which is fixedly connected withthe plate or mounting element 5 and of the same cross section as theopening 7. The conduit 8 extends downwardly from the plate 5 and has, asillustrated in the drawing, an upper open end and a lower open end. Thelower open end of the conduit 8 is designated with reference numeral 9and above it a plate 10 is fixedly connected with the conduit 8 toextend in parallelism with the plate 5. Its cross section does notcompletely fill the cross section of the shaft 2, as FIG. 3 showsparticularly clearly. The underside of the plate 10 is provided with twoelements 11 which are spaced from one another and between which a shaft12 extends in horizontal direction. A sleeve 13 is placed onto the shaft12, so as to surround the same with play and carries at one side a plate14 and at the diametrally opposite side a pair of arms 15 which carrybetween them a solid counterweight 16 of cylindrical cross section. Ofcourse, the cross section could be different from what is illustrated.The purpose of the counterweight 16 is to urge the plate 14, whichconstitutes the cover, into the closed position shown in FIG. 1 in whichthe upper side of the plate or cover 14 sealingly engages a sealing ring16a which surrounds the conduit 8 exteriorly of the same and somewhatupwardly spaced from the lower open end 9. The sealing ring 160 ismounted at the underside of the plate 10, as shown.

The cover 14 will be seen to be approximately shovel-shaped in itsconfiguration, having a side which normally faces upwardly and which isprovided with a depression 17 in which liquid entering through the upperopen end of the conduit 8 can accumulate. The drawing shows that thedepression 17 is defined by a wall 18 adjacent the sleeve 13, a surface19 which extends from the lower edge of the wall 18, and two triangularsidewalls 20, with the upper edges of these sidewalls being located in acommon plane and forming an upstanding rim 21 which in the closedposition of FIG. 1 engages the underside of the sealing ring 16a insealing engagement therewith. In the illustrated embodiment theunderside of the cover 14, that is beneath the surface 19 thereof, isprovided with a sealed air chamber 22 which is bounded not only by theunderside of the wall having the surface 19, but also by a surface 23which extends from the lower edge of the wall 18, by a wall 24 and bytwo sidewall portions which constitute extensions of the sidewalls 20.

When enough liquid has accumulated in the depression 17 to overcome thebiasing force exerted by the counterweight 16, the cover 14 pivotsdownwardly until it reaches a position in which the counterweight 16abuts the conduit 8. In this position the cover has pivoted throughapproximately out of its closed position in FIG. 1, and is locatedoutside the flowstream of liquid which enters through the upper open endof the conduit 8. The counterweight 16 is essentially vertically abovethe shaft 12 at this point, and may even move slightly past the axisdefined by the shaft 12. The force tending to return the cover 14 to theposition of FIG. 1, that is the combined weight of the counterweight 16,the cover 14 and the arms 15, is rather small so that once the cover hasmoved to the open position it will remain there if even a small amountof liquid enters through the upper open end of the conduit 8.

With the exception of the sealing rings 6 and 160, which may be of asuitable elastomeric sealing material such as natural or syntheticrubber, synthetic resin or the like, all other components of theconstruction may be made of synthetic plastic material, for instancepolyethylene, nylon or the like. However, any or all of these componentsmay be made totally or in part of metallic material if desired.

The construction according to the present invention requires little orno maintenance even over prolonged periods of time, and will operatereliably and without.

any difficulties even under varied and extremeoperating conditions. Dueto the fact that the sealing ring is located outside the path of liquidflowing through the conduit 8, or being discharged from the depression17, damage to the sealing ring or freezing-shut of the construction isavoided. In many instances the incoming liquid carries with it certainchemicals which tend to attack the material of such a sealing ring, andthis is of course also avoided in the construction according to thepresent invention where the sealing ring cannot be contacted by theliquid at all. Due to the fact that the lower end of the conduit 8 isso. spaced from the cover 14 that it will not be immersed in the liquidaccumulating in the depression 17, even at the time that the liquid hasreached its upper level at which it will overcome the weight of thecounterweight 16, freezing-shut of the construction is reliablyprecluded. Moreover, this arrangement also insures that even relativelylarge solid contaminants which have entered, such as relatively largestones or the like, can be discharged when the cover moves to the openposition of FIG. 2, and that no solids can be retained which couldbecome clamped between the cover 14 and the sealing ring 16a, or thelower end of the conduit 8, and prevent the cover from operating asdesired.

The cover according to the present invention will open not gradually butspontaneously once a level of liquid in the depression 17 has beenreached at which the weight of the liquid overbalances the weight of thecounterweight 16. This results in a sudden discharge of the accumulatedliquid, and as a result in a proper clearing of any contaminants such asrocks, twigs, leaves or the like from the depression 17. Moreover. duethe fact that the relatively thin-walled upstanding rim of the covercontacts the sealing ring 16a, reliable sealing action is alwaysassured, because the unit area pressure between the sealing ring 16a andthe upstanding rim will be high due to the relatively small wallthickness of the same. This assures good sealing even if there is noflow of incoming liquid which could form a gas or odor seal in thedepression 17.

The sealed air chamber could be omitted, but it is advantageous toprovide it because this provides for an additional sealing effect ifthere is a back-up of liquid downwardly of the cover because such liquidthen acts upon the cover, and the air entrapped in the sealed chamberhas sufficient buoyancy to help urge the cover into even tighter sealingengagement with the sealing ring 16a. In fact, when the sealed airchamber is used it may in certain circumstances be possible to even omitthe counterweight 16, namely in such circumstances where theconstruction is intended only to prevent backing-up of theliquid andwhen there is either no possibility that odors and gases might rise, orwhen their escape is not objectionable. In this case the cover wouldnormally be in open position and would only be urged to scaling positionwhen the liquid beneath it backs up.

When a sealed air chamber is provided, then it is advantageous if in asection substantially normal to its pivot axis the cover 14 is ofapproximately rectangular or trapezoidal hollow profile, having adiagonal wall which constitutes the upwardly inclined bottom of thedepression and which separates the depression from the sealed airchamber. Such a construction is particularly simple to produce, and hasthe advantage that the air chamber with the buoyancy it can provide willbe located relatively far from the pivot axis so that the lever arm infavor of the buoyancy factor is increased in an advantageous manner.

It is advantageous, but not necessary, if as shown in the drawing thecover 14, the pivot axis defined by the shaft 12 and the counterweight16 are located substantially in a common horizontal plane when the coveris in the closed position shown in FIG. 1. The pivot axis is locatedoutside the range of flow of liquid through the conduit 8 with such aconstruction, and the counterweight will produce its largest biasingforce when the cover 14 is in closed position, whereas the biasing forcewill decrease as the cover begins to move towards open position, due tothe decreasing lever arm of the biasing or counterweight, so that aspontaneous and rapid opening of the cover is thereby facilitated.

It is also advantageous if the cover can move through approximately 90between the closure position of FIG. 1 and the open position of FIG. 2,although a different angle of displacement might be chosen. The 90opening angle is, however, especially advantageous because a relativelylight flow of liquid will maintain the cover in open position underthese circumstances. The partic- 6 ular, essentially shovel-shapedconstruction of the cover 14 which has been illustrated in the drawinghas certain advantages. The upwardly inclined surface bounding thedepression 17, that is the inclination of the surface from the region ofthe pivot axis defined by the shaft 12 at one side of the conduit 8towards the other side of the conduit 8 and the other side of the cover14, assures that liquid which has accumulated in the deeper part of thedepression 17 adjacent the edge where the pivot axis defined by theshaft 17 is located. will flow over the opposite edge which of courseperforms the greatest movement when the cover moves to open position.This provides for a particularly good flushing of accumulated solidsfrom the depression as the liquid is dumped or discharged. In fact, asthe cover begins to move to open position the liquid of course shiftstowards this opposite side or edge, so that the effective lever arm ofthe accumulated liquid shifts in the same manner and the cover movesessentially spontaneously to open position, which facilitates thedesired flushing-out of accumulated solids from the depression 17.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

3 While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied ina conduit closure, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired tobe protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended:

1. A one-way closure for discharge conduits comprising, in combination,a mounting element connected to the discharge conduit interiorly thereofand subdividing the same in an upper and a lower compartment; anelongated connecting conduit sealingly connected to said mountingelement and having an upper end portion communicating with said uppercompartment, a lower end portion communicating with said lowercompartment, and an internal surface partially bounding a liquid-flowpath between said upper and lower compartments; a cover mounted in saidlower compartment for pivoting movement with respect to said connectingconduit between a closed position and a fully open position; biasingmeans connected with said cover and operative for biasing the same tosaid closedposition with a force gradually diminishing from a maximumforce in said closed position to a minimum force in said open position;a depression provided in said cover and adapted to accommodate apredetermined quantity of liquid therein when said cover is in saidclosed position thereof so as to establish a maximum liquid level insaid depression at which the weight of said predetermined quantity ofliquid outbalances said maximum force with attendant rapid movement ofsaid cover into said open position thereof and discharge of saidquantity of liquid; and a sealing ring arranged exteriorly of said lowerend portion outside said fluid-flow path and above said predeterminedlevel and sealingly engaging said cover when in said closed positionthereof. whereby said compartments are sealingly separated as long assaid cover is in the latter position, and the liquid is prevented fromcontacting said sealing ring.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing meanscomprises a counterweight.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, comprising mounting meansincluding a pivot member connected with said cover at one side of saidconnecting conduit, exteriorly of the latter.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said mounting meansdefines a pivot axis; and wherein the configuration of saidcover in avertical cross-section extending substantially normal through said pivotaxis is hollow and substantially rectangular.

5. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said mounting meansdefines a pivot axis; and wherein the configuration of said cover in avertical cross-section extending substantially normal through said pivotaxis is hollow and substantially trapezoidal. v

6. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said cover, pivot memberand biasing means are located in a substantially horizontal plane commonto them, when said cover is in said closed position.

7. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said mounting meansmounts said cover for pivotal displacement through substantially 8. Acombination as defined in claim 3, wherein said depression is partlydefined by a major surface which is inclined in upward direction fromsaid one to the opposite side of said connecting conduit when said coveris in said closed position.

9. A combination as defined in claim 1, said cover having a lower sidewhich faces downwardly away from said lower end portion when said coveris in said closed position; and wherein said cover is provided with asealed air chamber at said lower side.

10. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing ring isupwardly spaced from a lower edge bounding said lower end portion ofsaid connecting conduit.

1. A one-way closure for discharge conduits comprising, in combination,a mounting element connected to the discharge conduit interiorly thereofand subdividing the same in an upper and a lower compartment; anelongated connecting conduit sealingly connected to said mountingelement and having an upper end portion communicating with said uppercompartment, a lower end portion communicating with said lowercompartment, and an internal surface partially bounding a liquid-flowpath between said upper and lower compartments; a cover mounted in saidlower compartment for pivoting movement with respect to said connectingconduit between a closed position and a fully open position; biasingmeans connected with said cover and operative for biasing the same tosaid closed position with a force gradually diminishing from a maximumforce in said closed position to a minimum force in said open position;a depression provided in said cover and adapted to accommodate apredetermined quantity of liquid therein when said cover is in saidclosed position thereof so as to establish a maximum liquid level insaid depression at which the weight of said predetermined quantity ofliquid outbalances said maximum force with attendant rapid movement ofsaid cover into said open position thereof and discharge of saidquantity of liquid; and a sealing ring arranged exteriorly of said lowerend portion outside said fluid-flow path and above said predeterminedlevel and sealingly engaging said cover when in said closed positionthereof, whereby said compartments are sealingly separated as long assaid cover is in the latter position, and the liquid is prevented fromcontacting said sealing ring.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1,wherein said biasing means comprises a counterweight.
 3. A combinationas defined in claim 2, comprising mounting means including a pivotmember connected with said cover at one side of said connecting conduit,exteriorly of the latter.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 3,wherein said mounting means defines a pivot axis; and wherein theconfiguration of said cover in a vertical cross-section extendingsubstantially normal through said pivot axis is hollow and substantiallyrectangular.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein saidmounting means defines a pivot axis; and wherein the configuration ofsaid cover in a vertical cross-section extending substantially normalthrough said pivot axis is hollow and substantially trapezoidal.
 6. Acombination as defined in claim 3, wherein said cover, pivot member andbiasing means are located in a substantially horizontal plane common tothem, when said cover is in said closed position.
 7. A combination asdefined in claim 3, wheRein said mounting means mounts said cover forpivotal displacement through substantially 90*.
 8. A combination asdefined in claim 3, wherein said depression is partly defined by a majorsurface which is inclined in upward direction from said one to theopposite side of said connecting conduit when said cover is in saidclosed position.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 1, said coverhaving a lower side which faces downwardly away from said lower endportion when said cover is in said closed position; and wherein saidcover is provided with a sealed air chamber at said lower side.
 10. Acombination as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing ring is upwardlyspaced from a lower edge bounding said lower end portion of saidconnecting conduit.